Governance & Policy
CITES
Definition
CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, adopted in 1973 and in force since 1975, regulates cross-border trade in over forty thousand listed species. Species in Appendix I are effectively banned from commercial trade, while Appendix II and III species require permits ensuring trade is legal and does not threaten survival.
References
Convention purpose, appendices and permit system
Biodiversity-policy context
Overview
What it means
Wildlife trade — from ivory to tropical timber and exotic pets — is legal only within a global permit framework.
How it is used
Customs seize unpermitted specimens; timber traders secure CITES permits for listed woods; COP listings move species between appendices as pressures change.
Why it matters
It is the main legal tool against biodiversity loss driven by international trade, and a test case for enforcement-based conservation.
Review questions
What source or framework gives the term authority? What boundary or role is being described? What evidence would a reviewer need before relying on the term?